Swaddle Baby - How to

Often when you swaddle your baby she will enjoy feeling warm and cosy. When you swaddle your baby, you wrap the baby using a cloth or blanket so that the movement of her limbs are restricted. Also, when you swaddle the baby, she will sleep comfortably on her back. Swaddling also reduces colic in some babies. It also prevents her getting disturbed by her own reflex actions. Usually a swaddled baby does not need an extra blanket to keep herself warm. Remember to check if your baby is hungry or wet before you swaddle her. Also, do not cover her face and head as part of the swaddling. You can swaddle her as tightly or as loosely as you like.

In India, most mothers swaddle their babies by laying them in cradles made of soft cotton sarees. This provides a double benefit. Swaddling is achieved and also helps in rocking the baby to sleep.

Steps to Swaddle Baby

• Lay out a square piece of cloth (preferably thin, soft cotton and wool if its winter). The diagonal length of the cloth should be nearly twice as long as the baby.
• Fold one corner of the cloth down and lay your baby on her back with her head on and slightly above the folded part.
• Now bring the corner of the cloth on your baby's left across the baby and tuck under his right armpit. Bring the corner at the baby's feet up and tuck under the same armpit/back.
• Finally bring the corner on the baby's right across the baby and tuck under the baby's back on her left.
• If your baby prefers to have her arms uncovered, you can swaddle her under the arms. This helps her to play with her hands and fingers if she wants to.

Although most babies like to remain swaddled for a few weeks or months, some of them may start showing resistance very early or right away. They try to kick off the blanket when you swaddle them. It is best not to swaddle such babies as this can hamper their ability to practise motor skills. Also, do not swaddle such babies during a nap because they can suffocate themselves with the tossed off blanket. Another reason that you may decide to stop swaddling is that it may cause overheating which may be a key cause for SIDS. Swaddling her in a warm room can cause overheating. You can also end swaddling when your baby begins to roll over in a couple of months and gets used to sleeping on her own.

Video on Steps to Swaddle Baby

You can check out some cute sleeping bags to swaddle your newborn in the Bedding section of Kid Studio. That's Cute has some nice light-weight blankets in different colours. Sunbaby offers you both cotton and fleece blankets to swaddle your baby.

What are the benefits when you swaddle baby?

Swaddling your baby has many benefits. Some key benefits when you swaddle baby are:

• It is a great way to calm and soothe your baby very easily and keep her warm.
• Chances of your baby being prone to SIDS are minimum. However, do take care not to overheat her by swaddling her in a warm room.
• Most often, your baby tends to fall asleep as you swaddle him.
• Your baby's face is not covered and prevents suffocation.
• It is easier to hold a swaddled baby. Swaddled babies are also easier to feed.
• Swaddling is a good way to avoid a baby waking up from sleep due to her own muscle movements.